The Continuing Madness of Sion Sono

Remember when Sion Sono scrambled your brain at Midnight Madness 2013? Here's a little clip to take you back:

Yep, it's the gonzo toothpaste song from Sono's Why Don't You Play In Hell?, winner of the 2013 Midnight Madness People's Choice Award. Here is a Japanese trailer for the film that ends with a montage of spots where the toothpaste song recurs in the film:



Don't miss Sono's triumphant return to Midnight Madness with this year's opening night film Tokyo Tribe.

TOKYO TRIBE screening times:
Thu. Sept. 4th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Fri. Sept. 5th, 10:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 8
Sun. Sept. 14th, 3:30 PM, LIGHTBOX 3

TOKYO TRIBE: Sion Sono Returns to Kick Off Midnight Madness 2014

The opening night film of Midnight Madness 2014 is directed by Sion Sono. So much for gradually working up to the really nutty stuff. Sono won the 2013 Midnight Madness People's Choice Award for the spectacular mind-melter Why Don't You Play in Hell? He's back this year to defend his title with Tokyo Tribe, a "yakuza/street-gang/hip-hop musical epic." For a taste of the mayhem set to be unleashed on the Ryerson on opening night, check out the Japanese trailer:



TOKYO TRIBE screening times:
Thu. Sept. 4th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Fri. Sept. 5th, 10:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 8
Sun. Sept. 14th, 3:30 PM, LIGHTBOX 3

A Perplexed, Thrilled Midnight Madness Audience Talks About WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL!

Gnash your teeth, let's fly! The smartphones were out and fired up for the screening of Sion Sono's surreal departure from his last TIFF entry, Cold Fish. Check it out!

All the screenings of Why Don't You Play In Hell have passed, but keep an eye out for it on DVD/VOD or even in your local theatre!

WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL: Yakuza Movies

With the final screening of Sion Sono's yakuza film coming up, it seems like an excellent time to take a look at some classics of WTF yakuza film!

Fudoh: The New Generation (1996) directed by Takashi Miike

Takashi Miike was one of the first directors MM Programmer Colin Geddes brought to Midnight Madness. Riki Fudoh (not to be confused with Riki-Oh) takes over the action at his high school before taking over the whole island of Kyushu. His gang of adolescent assassins cut a swathe through the gangster community. But Riki isn't just looking for power, he's looking for revenge.




Branded To Kill (1967) directed by Seijun Suzuki

Jo Shishido is a very peculiar leading man. Deciding he was too blandly handsome, he got cheek implants (since removed) and his career as an antihero took off.  In Branded To Kill, Shishido plays, Goro, a hitman given a mission by a mysterious woman. Goro becomes a target when he fails to fulfill his contract. It sounds straightforward, but it's anything but, as the hitman hunting him psychologically torments him first. The mysterious woman has a thing for dead butterflies. And Goro himself has a fetish for the scent of steaming rice.  In short, Sono and Miike didn't come out of nowhere.



Tokyo Drifter (1966) directed by Seijun Suzuki

What can I say? I'm a sucker for Suzuki. Tokyo Drifter is an incredibly stylish and stylized portrayal of Tetsuya Watari as a yakuza hitman trying to leave the life. And just try to get the theme song out of your head.




Battles Without Honor Or Humanity (1973) directed by Kinji Fukasaku

Fukasaku is probably best known now for Battle Royale (2000), and he will always have a special place in my heart for The Green Slime (1968), but he sure made his mark on yakuza movies. In Battles Without Honor Or Humanity is part of a series of five films, The Yakuza Papers. Bunta Sugawara plays a veteran in Post-War Hiroshima whose loyalties are torn when his boss and his sworn brother's yakuza family feud.  and all of the films portray a brutal, highly unromantic view of the yakuza



Minbo: The Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion (1992) directed Juzo Itami

In Itami's comedy, a hotel is troubled by yakuza in their lobby, frightening off guests and generally being an intimidating nuisance. They hire Mahiru Inoue, played by Nobuko Miyamoto, who specializes in getting rid of the yakuza. But she doesn't shoot or stab them, she uses the law and yakuza tradition against them. While the film itself might be seen as mild to non-Japanese people, Itami reportedly was murdered over it.


If you are curious about real life yakuza, check out Jake Adelstein's journalism and books.

WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL Final Screening:

Saturday, Sept 14th, 3:45 PM SCOTIABANK 1

The Legends of Tak Sakaguchi

So have you heard of Tak Sakaguchi?

I thought I knew all the essentials. I did some digging, and was amazed with what I've found. And there is no exaggeration here of these points, I've only re-worded information from other articles for my artistic integrity!

Tak was a REAL live Japanese street fighter who was discovered DURING a street fight by future maverick director Ryuhei Kitamura.

Apparently -- Kitamura told him "You should be fighting in movies not on the streets" -- and during their second meeting, at a film party, it was Kitamura laying the beat down on someone when Tak walked in. (Source: Midnight Eye)

This next source is even more crazy... I did not make this up, but it's out there, been up since 2007. These are Chuck Norris internet meme level attributions, which just might have some truth to them:

• He passed a car that was going 60 km on a bicycle. Okay, I could see that.
• He fell from the fourth floor of a condo, with no injuries. Not gonna try it, but I suppose a well trained guy could conceivably do so.
• While he was training in the mountains, a wild BOAR attacked him, and he killed it.  What?!  It gets better!
• Tak is said to have fought a bear hand to hand and WON. 
• He's got a 22 consecutive win record in underground fighting. After seeing Alive, I can imagine this. 
• He fought also with 23 guys at the same time and won (I'm not adding anything in this translation! I'm going to say this is more impressive than the 22 win streak, although I guess those guys could have been more dangerous individually?)

Movie blood might be just as close as he gets to human mortality.

And according to my wife's research on another website in Japanese -- Tak even broke his neck while filming an action scene for Yakuza Weapon (2011), which he also directed, went on to do TWO more takes before agreeing to go to the hospital. Apparently, the doctor told him, "If it wasn't for your neck muscles, you'd be dead."

So just who IS this guy?! 

Well, he first emerged unto the international film scene as the star of Midnight Madness sensation Versus (2001).  Versus spawned a huge cult following and cemented his status as a cool, calm badass anti-hero who could believably destroy equally impressive opponents with guns, spinning swords and his reality hardened martial arts. 

Kitamura and Sakaguchi's partnership flourished through several more films: Alive, Arigami, Godzilla: Final Wars -- and the recently announced Versus 2, which was enough to bring Tak out of a short lived retirement.

Over his action packed career, Tak's blossomed into an action director and co-director (Vampire Girl vs Frankenstien Girl (2009), Tokyo Gore Police (2008), Himizu (2011), and single handedly directed  Be A Man Samurai School (2008); , Samurai Zombie (2008) and the aforementioned Yakuza Weapon.  He shares another co-director credit with amazing director Sion Sono in the upcoming Kenkichi -- but now:

Tak returns to Midnight Madness this year in ar in Sion Sono's manic romp,  Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013).

So just how much of the legends are true? We may never know, but one thing is certain: He'll bring his trade-mark badassness and effortless physicality to the role.


WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL? Screening Times:
Friday, Sept 13th, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Saturday, Sept 14th, 3:45 PM SCOTIABANK 1

Spend More Time In HELL With Us

Keep that camera rolling, or else!

In what's looking to be one of the more insane contributions this year, Japanese director Sion Sono (Suicide Club (2001), Cold Fish (2010) opens up a pandora's box of blood, blades and gun smoke with Why Don't You Play In Hell.

I just received a mysterious email with a bit of insider info about this particular film's screening…    

I've got to be careful as I write this.  A trace could already be in effect.  I think I'm being watched, so if this is my last post, I love you mom!

Apparently--both Venice film festival is screening shorter versions of the film.

One of the best things about going to MM is that you get to see things not only first - but sometimes the only time EVER before watch dogs get to it.

You can see Mr. Sono's unabridged vision!

Let's recall a sad fan day from my life:   I bought  Takeshi Miike's Ichi the Killer (2001) on a huge honk'n VHS (beautiful clamshell, for what it's worth) only to discover that it was a completely different version than I had seen at Midnight Madness.  I'm talking the Coles notes of the original gore.  How disappointing when I wanted to show my friends - although that probably preserved some friendships as they had no idea the sick stuff they were missing.

Even single frames can make a huge difference in the experience of a film.  Directors talk about fighting for frames all the time.  That extra bit of blood, that extra glare of emotion, and it's not uncommon for different territories to have different versions tailored to their demographic.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right?

So just how many extra frames are we talking here?  Well… 

Approximately 10,080 extra frames. 

That's 24 frames per second, for a grand total of 7 MORE MINUTES OF CHAOS... only at Midnight Madness!  

Will that be extra plot? Credits? Extra FX? Comedy bits?  

There's only one way to know for sure.  And no time machine, or cryogenic stasis field is required to see the definitive release of Why Don't You Play in Hell.   See it first at Midnight Madness in ALL its glory!

WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL Screening Times:

Friday, Sept 13th, 11:59 PM RYERSON

Saturday, Sept 14th, 3:45 PM SCOTIABANK 1

WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL Premieres Tonight!

Polish up your katana, swear your oaths of eternal loyalty, and practice all your sweetest gambling movies because Sion Sono's Why Don't You Plan In Hell? premieres at Midnight Madness tonight!

Of course, an oath of eternal loyalty might not be the best idea if playing in Hell is involved... Anyway get ready for some craziness at the Ryerson tonight!

WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL Screening Times:

Friday, Sept 13th, 11:59 PM RYERSON

Saturday, Sept 14th, 3:45 PM SCOTIABANK 1

HORNS & WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL: Between Vanguard & Midnight Madness

 Director Alexandre Aja's Haute Tension pulverized the audience at its North American premiere at Midnight Madness 2003. Since then, Aja has directed several more horror films including The Hills Have Eyes (2006) and Piranha 3D (2010). This year, he returns to the Toronto International Film Festival with the world premiere of his new film Horns--not to Midnight Madness, but to its cousin programme, Vanguard. What does this mean? Well, it means that Horns is still a hard-edged, genre-tinged film, but it's not so much of a meat grinder that some of the general citizenry can't appreciate it alongside Midnight Madness fans. In short, it's a film that the Festival doesn't have to wait until the witching hour to unleash.

On the other hand, director Sion Sono is apparently getting crazier the more films he makes. His film Cold Fish was in Vanguard 2010. Likely the bloodiest film in the Festival that year, it blurred the line between Vanguard and Midnight. It had the viscera to satisfy the Midnight crowd, but its 144 minute runtime made for a pace better suited to viewings not, well, in the middle of the night. Sono is back this year with the North American premiere of Why Don't You Play in Hell? and this time he's full on Midnight Madness. We can take this to mean that the director's work has reached the point at which it's no longer safe to exhibit in a non-Midnight situation where it could harm a casual filmgoer.

HORNS screening times:
Fri., Sept. 6th, 6:00PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS
Sun., Sept. 8th, 1:00PM, SCOTIABANK 4

WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL? screening times:
Fri., Sept. 13th, 11:59PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 14th, 3:45PM, SCOTIABANK 1

WTF Trailers: WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL? vs. WITCHING & BITCHING

Want to know how wild this year's Midnight Madness lineup is going to be? Watch the full trailers below for North American premiere Why Don't You Play in Hell? and world premiere Witching & Bitching. Then try to decide which one looks more insane. Neither trailer is subtitled, but the wackness translates loud and clear.

Why Don't You Play in Hell?:



Witching & Bitching:



WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL? screening times:
Fri., Sept. 13th, 11:59PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 14th, 3:45PM, SCOTIABANK 1

WITCHING & BITCHING screening times:
Sat., Sept. 14th, 11:59PM, RYERSON
Sun., Sept. 15th, 12:00PM, SCOTIABANK 14

Colin Geddes Talks Midnight Madness 2013!

Midnight Madness MC Colin Geddes has been making the press rounds the last few weeks pumping up this year’s stellar line-up.  I've pulled some choice bits from his interviews with Fangoria, MSN Movies, and Society Vernacular. Click on the links below for the full stories.

At Fangoria, Colin talked about some of the titles in this years lineup:

Fangoria: Which film is that big unknown for you this year?

CG: …watch out for ALMOST HUMAN by Joe Begos… It’s a film with that vibe of some of the best 80s intense horror thrillers, which has that action element to it. It’s really fresh and fun. A guy gets abducted by aliens—or we assume aliens since he goes into a blue light. Ten years later his friend who has been accused of the murder finds out that he has come back, however he is not the same and now he likes to use shotguns, chainsaws and axes on people.

Fangoria: What about the film most likely to get under your skin?

CG: OCULUS has got the INSIDIOUS factor... You don’t really know what’s going on and it’s going to definitely permeate nightmares.

Fangoria: What will be the craziest, loudest screening at Midnight Madness this year?

CG: That might be WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL? … It may not sound like a horror film but this has more blood than most of the other films at the festival. …I think we’re going to have a special team of cleaners just to sweep the jaws off the floor. It’s going to start hitting those “WTF” synapses in the brain, which people are going to love.

Over at MSN Movies Colin talked about "...programming, why 'found footage' should get lost, the roar of the crowd, and more ...":

MSN: The question on everyone’s mind: How many films did you start with?

CG: It was ... 180.  One of the things I've done this year was actually keeping a diary of what films I watched every day, so I've got a little note on my phone through which I can scroll through and ... "I watched three films that day, five films that day, when I was in Cannes," and know how many I was watching then.

MSN: What, for you, is the best possible kind of midnight film?

CG: … I like being able to take a director who is unknown, even if maybe he's done a couple films… I love being able to give these films a platform and helping see them get to the next level and engage with an audience.  Maybe engage with an audience outside their own country.

Finally, he talked to Society Vernacular about a wide range of topics covering 25 years of Midnight Madness:

SV: When did you first move to Toronto and how soon after did you discover TIFF and Midnight Madness?

CG: ...1988...the first films I saw at the film festival were Hellraiser II and Brain Damage.

SV: How do you handle the responsibility of delivering programmes every year, knowing you have hundreds of fans eagerly awaiting fresh recommendations?

CG: I feel duty bound to be loyal to the audience. I’ve always picked films that I feel the audience are going to enjoy. Maybe they might not expect or anticipate it but I’m aware that there is a ticket price… that gets worse every year because of inflation. I don’t want to waste the audience’s time. I want to give them something new and fresh. I don’t want to do something that’s kind of a rehash of old ideas. I’m not a fan of the whole ‘it’s so bad it’s good’ train of thought. I like surprising them and entertaining them. I’m always paying attention to the audience and what’s going to be a good night out for them.


ALMOST HUMAN Screening Times:
Tuesday, Sept 10th, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Wednesday, Sept 11th, 7:15 PM SCOTIABANK 3
Friday, Sept 13th, 2:30 PM SCOTIABANK 9

OCULUS Screening Times:
Sunday, Sept 8th, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Tuesday, Sept 10th, 4:15 PM SCOTIABANK 14
Sunday, Sept 15th, 6:00 PM SCOTIABANK 11

WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL Screening Times:
Friday, Sept 13th, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Saturday, Sept 14th, 3:45 PM SCOTIABANK 1

WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL? Poster and Teaser

"This had to be in. There are so many WTF moments. The audience isn't going to believe it." --Colin Geddes, Midnight Madness programmer

The North American premiere of Why Don't You Play in Hell? will mark the first ever appearance of iconoclastic director Sion Sono (Suicide Club, Love Exposure, Cold Fish) in Midnight Madness. The teaser trailer below promises vintage Sono: jaw-dropping and blood-soaked. Festival page located here.

WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL? screening times:
Fri., Sept. 13th, 11:59PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 14th, 3:45PM, SCOTIABANK 1